Thursday, December 30, 2010

Tom Orzechowski is an award-winning comic book letterer, primarily known for his work on Uncanny X-Men. He has been lettering X-men over a 25 year period, mainly working on pages of Chris Claremont's scripts. His letters are almost perfectly square and painstaking the same height. Orzechowski modeled his lettering on the Flash Gordon newspaper strips of the 1930s but you can also see one of influences was Robert Crumb's Zap Comix. While Marvel was standardizing their style, Orzechowski was drawing influences from calligraphy, record jackets, old movie posters almost everything except comics. Roy Thomas complained that that his letters looked too much like underground comics when he was working in 1973. He was an innovator in lettering and logo design. The Wolverine logo is his design that was based on elements from the 20-30's.

In 1968, when Orzechowski was 15, he joined comics club with a group of aspiring comic book artists that me at a comic convention in Detroit. Some older members of the club included future comics professionals Rich Buckler, Jim Starlin, Al Milgrom, and Mike Vosburg. Orzechowski quit drawing when he saw their work. None of the club members wanted to letter their amateur comics so Orzechowski took on that job. Later, Tony Isabella, an old friend, got an editorial job at Marvel around Halloween of '72. When a lettering corrections job turned up and he gave Orzechowski a call to see he wanted to work at Marvel for $100 a week. By the time of the debut of the New X-Men in X-Men #94, Orzechowski had developed a reputation as a "new projects guy," and was given the odd issue, and then finally the series. From there he became the letterer for X-Men, many of its annuals, The New Mutants, Wolverine, X-Treme X-Men, and MekaniX.

In 1992, Orzechowski was among the first letterers to experiment with computer fonts. His his first font program was so primitive he ended up doing that series entirely by hand. But by 1994 Orzechowksi was lettering mainly on the computer, and in 2002 he switched completely to digital lettering, using a Wacom pen on a graphics tablet, in Adobe Illustrator. Although he is now Lettering Savage Dragon by hand now, with the same pen he has been using since the 80's. He is busy lettering now and has a typography and logo design studio.

As Tom said, "Orzechowski is probably the most famous Polish name in the lettering world. No one can pronounce it, but they recognize it on sight."

Doug Dorr: What projects are you working on currently?

X-Men Forever, for which I also letter the covers; Savage Dragon, which I letter with pen and ink; New Mutants Forever; Forward 54th, about an African American regiment in the Civil War; Reign of the Underdog, written by rapper Lazarus; Captain America, Fighting Avenger; Hulk Aftershock; The AdvanceTeam, a graphic novel for Tor Books; Spawn; and a couple of Wolverine projects.

What is your artistic Process?

I letter the comics digitally in most cases, which includes page composition, titles, dialogue, balloons and sound effects. A lot of the fonts I use are my own designs.

DD: When you are story letterer, how involved are you in the books look and feel?

I’m the midpoint between the script and the art. I have to balance both elements on the page. This has me designing the script’s layout so that the dialogue and captions bounce attractively amid the art bits. I make it all flow, pulling the eye continually toward something interesting.

DD: What skill would you like to learn?

Time expansion.

DD: What's the most important thing you've learned?

How to work 32 hours without a break.

DD: Do you have a collection? If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

I tend toward coverless ‘50s DCs. No favorites.

DD: What is your favorite genre of Comics?

My interest is in the artwork, so I go for all genres.

DD: What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

Fringe.

DD: How does the Portland comics culture shape your work?

It’s nice to have so many other professionals nearby. We know a lot of the same things, but learned them with different emphasis.

DD: What was your first comic convention?

Detroit Triple FanFair, 1967. I met some people at the ’68 show who ran a city-wide comics club. Most of us were working in comics by ’75. Most of us still do.

DD: What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

People bring my books for signatures. I see a lot of the same key books, but every so often something old and obscure turns up. I haven’t looked back at them since I did ‘em, so it’s interesting to see everyone’s early work.

DD: If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

Except that I don’t drive, I might have studied to be a general contractor. I like working toward exact outcomes.

DD: How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

My wife and I moved here six years ago. We got to know the town a bit, and liked it a lot, when I was up here for a job interview some years ago. I didn’t take the job, but couldn’t resist the town.

DD: What is your favorite part of Portland?

We live in St. Johns, which we chose because it has a village-y quality to it.

DD: Would you like to write/Illustrate for another media? or conversely, how would you feel about working with a popular character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond? What would you explore?

I’ve been too busy in comics to give much thought to other areas. Everywhere you go, the deadlines are brutal… but the pay might be better elsewhere. Comics come out every month, and I like the security of that. Dr. Who was canceled for quite a few years, and James Bond movies may never happen again. For me, it comes down to a balance between high-level thrills and regular work.

Please join Aaron Duran, artist James Sinclair, and editor/letterer Jennifer Alvin as they premiere their first title, La Brujeria, at Bridge City Comics on Saturday January 15.

A bizarre tale of a “gifted” temp that accepts yet another boring job. But, with Werewolves, Elementals, & a diminutive Chupacabra as co-workers; Althalia learns the Golden Bought Pawn Shop is anything but typical. With old powers and even older adversaries waking up on and under the streets of Portland, nothing will ever be the same.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Joe Keatinge is putting together a fantastic fan art gallery and overview of the classic European character Tintin written and illustrated by Herge. I haven't read Tintin since I was a kid, but after reading this I feel compeled to pick it up again and read it with my kids. He has art from Tony Morgan, Jared Lewis, Jon Siruno, Jon Siruno, Cat Farris, Ron Chan, Terry Blas and Kimball Davis, Mario Boon, Brandon Graham and Moritat. And that is just from part 1 and 2 of this 4 part series.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Sadly Benito Cereno, James Harren and Ed Brisson's Santa Claus Vs the Martians was not able to be ready to be published for this Christmas but you can check it out online with Comic Alliance. This version has full annotations. Thanks for the early xmas gift.

Come meet Tim Seeley, Scott Allie and Shane White at TFAW @ for a signing party. He'll be joined by two of his Hack/Slash Trailers Part 2 contributors, Scott Allie (Buffy Season 8, Solomon Kane) and Shane White (Fractured Fables, One Month to Live) Also, check out Tim's new Ant-man and Occultist comics.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Aaron Lopresti spend year at Oregon State, and left to pursue his second love, film. He headed to the USC film school in Los Angeles.After film school and he spent a year reading scripts for Tri-Star Pictures. But after three years in Los Angeles he moved back to Portland and getting a job at Art Farm Studios.Aaron’s first big break came in 1993 when Publisher Dave Olbrich and Editor-in-Chief Chris Ulm hired Aaron for Malibu Comics' new Ultraverse line to draw for the comic book series Sludge. . In 1995 he founded the successful comic art studio, Studiosaurus that lasted until 1998.Since that time he has created artwork for Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse. Some of the titles he’s worked on include The Hulk, X-men, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Avengers, Plastic Man, Star Trek, Superman and many more including the self published Atomic Toybox

Aaron lists his art influences in two categories, comic and illustration. His comic fluences are: Frazetta, Berni Wrightson, Neal Adams, Michael Golden, Steranko, Brian Bolland, and anyone else who is good. Illustrators who have influenced Aaron over the years are: Frazetta(again), James Bama, William Stout, JC Leyendecker, Brian Froud, Robert McGinnis and Chuck Jones.

Check out his amazing Fantastical Creatures Field Guide: How to Hunt Them Down and Draw Them Where They Live and his site to look at his diverse illustrations.

What projects are you working on currently?

I am penciling JLI: Generation Lost (every third issue), I am penciling and inking the covers to R.E.B.E.L.S (starting with issue #25) and I am writing and drawing a feature called Garbage Man which will appear in DC's new anthology series, Weird Worlds, which comes out in January.

DD: What is your writing Process?

I work through the plot in my head so I know where I am starting and where I am going to end up. Then I break it down page by page so I can be sure that the story will fit within the page constraints I am working with. Then I just start writing. When I get done, I will go through and rewrite the dialogue. Then when I pencil the book, sometimes I will change it as I am drawing because i will get ideas that better help tell the story. After I am done penciling I will go through and rewrite the dialogue again.

What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

Unfortunately I don't read them anymore. I do occasionally pick up issues of the "Modern Masters" series if it is an artist that I like. I get most of my industry information online from places like Comic Book Resources and Broken Frontier, etc.

What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

See above.

When are story illustrator, how involved in guiding the plot of the story?

Really not at all unless I am also writing. Sometimes a writer or editor will ask, "what do you want to draw?" Then you have an opportunity to interject some story ideas but most of the time you get a script and start drawing.

What skill would you like to learn?

I would like to become a good oil painter and I would also like to find the time to improve my photoshop skills.

DD: Do you have a collection? If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

I collect comics, some movie posters, dinosaur items, and some original art. I have Amazing Spiderman #2 and up and some single issues that I am pretty pleased to have include Sgt. Fury #13 (NM), Shock Suspense #13 (VF/NM), Strange Tales #114, Tales of Suspense #59, Journey into Mystery #112, National Comics #26 all high grade. I have a ton of other nice books as well including a high grade run of Silver Surfer and Conan. I also have a vintage (1978) Wrightson original. A lot of cool stuff fills my studio.

DD: What is your favorite genre of Comics?

Monster and Fantasy/Adventure. Anything Burroughs related or barbarian in general. Some of my favorite comics growing up were Marvel's John Carter of Mars series, as well as Ploog and Buscema's Weird World stuff. I am very much a child of 70's comics when Burroughs, Robert E. Howard and Tolkien stuff was all the rage.

DD: Do you have an Ipad? If so what do use it for the most.

No. I have a Mac Tower but that is as far as my trendy computing goes.

DD: What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

I did watch LOST but I was so disappointed by the final season and their inability to adequately explain the events of the series that I swore to never get hooked on a show again.

My all time favorite movie is JAWS.

DD: What was your first comic convention?

I went to Richard Finn's Portland Comic Book shows when he had them at the Masonic Temple back when I was in high school. The first big one I went to was San Diego back in 1986.

DD: What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

Talking with people and shopping for cool weird stuff you can't find anywhere else. Also, getting to hook up with other professionals.

DD: If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

I would be writing and drawing children's books which is something I am trying to get into now. If not art, I would be a chef.

DD: Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?

Chef Paul's restaurant in New Orleans. Locally I really like Giovanni's in Beaverton.

DD: How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

I was born and grew up in Beaverton. I couldn't wait to leave the state. I don't like the politics or the weather. I left and went to school in LA but eventually ended up back here. I then moved to Florida to work at CrossGen but family brought us back to Oregon again. I will probably die here wishing I lived somewhere else.

DD: What is your favorite part of Portland?

All of the old book and magazine stores. NW Portland was a pretty cool place to hang out when I was young.

DD: Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

I have never been to Bend, Oregon.

DD: Would you like to write/illustrate for another media? or conversely, would you like to illustrate a popular character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond? What would you explore?

Friday, December 10, 2010

A Release Party for "Spirit Quest," an anthology on spirituality/religion, Come and meet the contributors and editors, pick up contributor copies, buy an issue before they hit the shops or just have a nice friendly conversation. It's all about community!!

This is prepared by Stumptown Underground is a zine collective, publishing monthly issues that include pretty much anything you can put in a zine (writing, comics, illustrations, reviews, recipes, etc) and centralized around a different theme each month.

Thursday, December 09, 2010

He is currently the artist on the monthly series Thor: The Mighty Avenger with writer Roger Langridge and just completed the OGN Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale with writers Joss and Zack Whedon. His influences are artists like Alex Toth, Milt Caniff, Steranko, Romita, Sr., Kirby, Mazzucchelli and Steve Rude. They give him the cleaner, simpler line like the Silver Age artists. I find that he is amazing to watch sketch and ink, if you have the opportunity watch him. He has done some fantastic work such as The Mighty (DC), The Exterminators for DC/Vertigo, Agents of Atlas (Marvel), Capote in Kansas and Queen & Country (Oni Press). He is a rising star and is on some major new marvel books such as Thor, Siege: Embedded, Age of Heroes and DC's Vertigo Crime OGN Area Ten. I cant' wait to see what's next.

Currently, issue 8 of Thor: The Mighty Avenger, along with some sketching for upcoming projects.

DD: What is your artistic Process?

Typically, I get a script from my editor. I read through the script once, then read through a second time, making sketches in the margins about panel layouts or angles or storytelling. Then I sit down and translate the script, and those sketches, into 4"x6" thumbnails. The thumbnails are sent to my editor for approval. After approval, I draw the full sized pencils which are again, sent in for approval. Then I ink those pages.

DD: What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

I really enjoyed the first Parker book by Darwyn Cooke. The second is in my to-read pile.

DD: What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

I guess that would depend on what they like to read!

DD: When you are story illustrator, how involved are you in the writing?

Typically, I'm not. Unless the writer asks for my two cents.

DD: What skill would you like to learn?

I'd love to learn how to color in Photoshop.

DD: What's the most important thing you've learned?

In comics? I've learned that it's incredibly important to have a good support system. And that being professional about your work (especially deadlines) will set you apart with editors.

DD: Do you have a collection? If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

Of course! I've got a small, but great, collection of original art.

DD: What is your favorite genre of Comics?

I love silver-age, 60's, fun and campy comics.

DD: Do you have an Ipad? If so what do use it for the most.

No.

DD: What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

My favorite movie is Superman: The Movie. I have lots of favorite tv shows.

DD: How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work

Well, I've only been here five months, so I don't think it's had a chance to shape my work yet. I do love that so many creators live in Portland, and that was certainly a draw for us to move here.

DD: What was your first comic convention?

A Greater Eastern convention in St. Louis when I was probably 12.

DD: What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

Hanging out with other creators and getting to meet fans.

DD: If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

I'd love to be a sculptor.

DD: How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

We've been here five months. I like that there is such a large community of comic book folks. Also, I really love coffee and rainy weather.

DD: What is your favorite part of Portland?

Honestly, I've spend almost every waking hour working at my desk since we moved to Portland, so I haven't seen very much of the city. I do love our neighborhood though.

DD: Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

Anywhere outside of my office! :)

DD: Would you like to write/Illustrate for another media? or conversely, how would you feel about writing a comic of a character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond? What would you explore?

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

There is a signing of Axe Cop at Bridge City Comics! Both Ethan and Malachai will be present! During one of Ethan's Christmas visit, 5 year old Malchai was running around with his toy fireman axe and he said he was playing "Axe Cop." He was asked to play and was brought a recorder as weapon (flute cop). This week-long visit they cranked out the first four episodes of AXE COP. Malachai is the idea man, Ethan just records the exploits. Here is a video of the writing process.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

This was the first time I had ever actually been to fwc. I have met Jason at Stumptown many times but it was really cool to check out Floating World on the edge of Chinatown. It is a cool location. You can still check out the ROM exhibit and buy ROM prints the proceeds go to Bill Mantlo. I bought the above print by Veronique Meignaud.

Joe Keatinge started working at Image his primary job was PR & Marketing. Image doesn't hire editors, but he did end up editing the projects he brought to Image while working there. He eventually left Image so he could concentrate on PopGun and his own projects full time. Popgun is an award winning comics anthology. The driving concept behind Popgun is a mixtape of graphic short stories that cross the borders of all genres. In addition, he's contributed to anthology titles such as Negative Burn and The Next Issue Project#1: Fantastic Comics #24 with artists Mike & Laura Allred. Currently Joe is also a contributor to Neon Monster blog. He is a member of Tranquility Base shared studio of illustrators and cartoonists.

Doug Dorr: What Accomplish are you most proud of?

I'm most proud of PopGun bringing a ton of exposure to a lot of new artists, writers and cartoonists. I've had editors from every major publisher tell me they use every volume as catalogs for creators. It's great to know the books doing what we intended them to.

DD: What projects are you working on currently?

I'm mostly focused on writing, primarily with three creator owned series I hope to have out by this time next year. There are also several things featuring characters I don't own, like the upcoming jam comic closing out the first wave Twisted Savage Dragon Funnies. It's an eight pager written by me and illustrated by Dean Haspiel, Simon Fraser, Joe Infurnari, Michael Cavallaro, Tim Hamilton, George O'Connor & Savage Dragon creator Erik Larsen. Our aim with having so many people involved was to tell the equivalent of a mega-crossover series with multiple tie-ins, but in just eight pages. Furthermore, I'm especially stoked since this marks Erik drawing his first solo Dragon story by another writer.

Of course, I'm working on the future of PopGun. We'll officially announce what this is after the new year. Not only is there a fifth volume in the works, but we're also developing the next stage of the anthology's evolution. Other than that, we're keeping things mum.

Besides all this I'm doing more cartooning and illustration work than I have in years. While at Image Central I let my art fall to the wayside, so it's something I'm working on now more on than I have in a long time. This publicly kicks off with Moonstone's Bedtime Stories for Impressionable Children #1, which features an eight-page story I illustrated, written by Jim Kuhoric. It's certainly the work of a rusty artist, but it has got me going again. I'm also looking to expand out of comics as before Image I illustrated/designed a number of album covers for bands like Northern State & Alex Arrowsmith and look forward to doing more soon.

There's also some Not Comics, like my ongoing columns at Neon Monster. I've been doing more along these lines and enjoyed it, so I don't doubt there will be more on the way.

DD: What is your Artistic Process?

It depends on what I'm doing.

When it comes to drawing, my process resembles old, dead cartoonists. I like drawing on toothy bristol paper with pencils, pens and brushes. This is done at a desk I hunch over until my back hurts. Tablets haven't entered the equation for me yet. Stylistically I'm more inspired by people like Herge, George Herriman, Floyd Gottfredson and Winsor McCay so I'm prone to emulating how they worked.

Writing and editing are both the same and wildly different. More or less, I procrastinate for awhile, then sit down at a desk until I can't work anymore.

In all cases, I take notes and mull over things for a long time, then it all comes pouring out when I sit down and do it.

I will say the procrastinating part has died down considerably since joining up with the Portland, OR based comics studio, Tranquility Base. I now find myself waking up, checking e-mail, returning calls then heading down to the studio as soon as I can. Once I'm there there's not a lot to do other than work on comics. So I basically just sit at a desk until I'm done.

What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

Every single volume of Tintin by Herge. They're all good. The very early stuff like Tintin in the Land of the Soviets and Tintin in the Congo is rough, but worth seeing where a master cartoonist started. My personal favorite books is the two-part moon story, Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon. I suppose if you just had to buy one to go with either Blue Lotus or Red Rackum's Treasure. Lotus is widely accepted as his masterpiece, but Red Rackum's Treasure is a great primer for the series as a whole.

Furthermore, if you want to make comics, you need to be reading more Moebius. The guy's work is currently very hard to locate, but it's also what all your favorite artists have been inspired by for the last thirty years. Luckily, the new iteration of Humanoids is bringing in some of his work with writer Alejandro Jodorwsky, specifically Incal and Madwoman of the Sacred Heart. It's good stuff, but the work he's done on his own is great. If you have the tenacity to seek it out, I highly suggests Epic's nine-part Moebius reprint series. Again, it's extremely hard to piece together, but well worth it.

What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

Without question, JM Ken Niimura and Joe Kelly's I Kill Giants, published by Image Comics. Its become my go-to book for anyone who asks me what the whole comics thing is about. The only prerequisite to enjoying it is to be a human being with a soul. You're in for a real treat as long as you've got that going.

With your experience in illustration and design, do you contribute to the look and feel of the books you publish/edit?

While I've never published a book, my editorial philosophy is to find the right people for the right project and let them do whatever the hell they want. I feel it's best to act as a support system, not to make changes to sound effects or character motivation. If you can't trust the talent you've brought on to make their own decisions, then you shouldn't have hired them in the first place.

What skill would you like to learn?

Right now I'm most actively working on becoming a better cartoonist. While working at Image I still wrote the small thing here and there as well, but for the most part I let my art fall to the wayside. There was one lone exception - Kelly the Cop from The Next Issue Project #2: Silver Streak Comics #24 - but otherwise I only drew in my sketchbooks from time to time. As I said when I mentioned Bedtime Stories for Impressionable Children, I have gotten pretty rusty. However, I'm working hard on getting it to where I want to be again through a combination of life drawing, studying artists from all sorts of mediums and reading Andrew Loomis books.

What's the most important thing you've learned?

The best advice I've gotten on life in general I received from my Dad, who got it from Joseph Campbell: Follow your bliss.

I've found life to be a lot better experience when I know it's focused on pursuing what makes me happiest. Whenever I've diverged from it, because it was safer or whatever, I've always been displeased with the results. That said, following a bliss can be a tough path. Blisses don't always come with a paycheck and sometimes they seem impossible and depressing, but in the end I'd rather be doing what I want to do than something I don't. Life's too damn short.

Do you have a collection? If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

Yeah, I have a pretty massive library of single issues, tradepaperbacks, hardcovers and art books as well as some original art. Right now the thing I'm most stoked about is this spinner rack Between Gears artist, Natalie Nourigat, gave me. I filled it with all the comics which made comics my life pursuit in the first place. It ranges from Moebius to Mickey Mouse in Air Pirates Funnies to Chris Ware's Floyd Farland to 70s Jack Kirby and a slew of others.

What is your favorite genre of Comics?

I used to say superhero comics with the caveat of thinking the vast majority of superhero comics don't utilize what I like most about the genre. People really tear into it, but I think it has so more much potential we have ever fully realized. It's a genre in which anything makes sense, where nothing is impossible, conveyed in a medium where there are no limits. How cool is that?!

We've seen glimpses of what I want to see in works like Flex Mentallo, Madman, Bulletproof Coffin, Savage Dragon, Casual Heroes, Daniel Clowes' Deathray, among others. I think it's capable of more than most people ever give it credit for.

These days I've been most excited about Fusion Comics, in which multiple genres merge to create something new. For example, there's Brandon Graham's King City, where you could argue it has superhero elements - to me the Catmasters are the 21st century's Green Lantern Corps - but to classify it under said genre isn't accurate. It seems to be the genre equivalent of Paul Pope's theory of World Comics, where since artists had more exposure to work around the planet, their styles would become more diverse than ever before.

Do you have an Ipad? If so what do use it for the most.

I certainly do.

At this point I primarily use it as an e-reader for novels, comics, magazines, newspapers and whatever else. What I've found is it doesn't act as a replacement for any of those things I was already reading, but rather a supplement. I still go to the comics shop every Wednesday; I even go out of my way to purchase the new issue of Empire whenever it hits the states. That said, I'm discovering a lot more than I would have ever have before. There's a number of international magazines on fashion and design I would never have thought to check out, but am now enthralled by. The proper distribution wasn't there before. Now it is and it's making me seek out more.

As a guy who travels with some frequency, its been a Godsend. In the past I would always pack way too much reading or viewing material, now I just load it onto my iPad. It's nice to shift from The Girl Who Played With Fire to All-Star Superman to Inglorious Basterds just by brushing my finger.

What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

My favorite TV show of all time is, without question, Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner. I don't think there's been another show nearly as radical or ground breaking since. At the moment I'm hopelessly addicted to Mad Men. A friend lent me his DVDs months ago and I sat on them until last week. Now I'm halfway through Season Three.

Movie wise Hal Ashby's Harold & Maude has been my favorite flick since I was 16 and I can't imagine it ever being dethroned. The new movie I've been most taken with was Anton Corbijin's The American. It was a huge surprise, especially since I didn't see a trailer beforehand. All I knew was a buddy wanted to go and I enjoyed the design aesthetic of its one sheet. The end result was stunning, as the flick had more in common with 60s and 70s thrillers like Le Samourai than anything coming out today.

How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work

The community here is amazing. Living around so many insanely talented writers, artists and cartoonists definitely keeps me motivated.

Even beyond the creators here, to live in a city filled with amazing comic shops like Floating World Comics, Bridge City Comics, Cosmic Monkey and Excalibur, to name a few, as well as a fantastic show in The Stumptown Comics Fest helps my drive. It's like living in Dylan Horrocks' Hicksville.

I mentioned them before, but I can't stress enough how much I love working with the folks at Tranquility Base. While everyone here does such wildly different work, working together in the same room results in all working harder and better than we might otherwise. At least that's what it's doing for me.

What was your first comic convention?

I don't remember when I first went, but it was definitely one of the Los Angeles Comics and Science Fiction Conventions at the Shrine auditorium. I do remember Brian Pulido was working really hard to push Evil Ernie while it was published by Eternity so it was definitely a long time ago.

What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

Each convention is sort of like summer camp for creators. Every time I go to a con, I get fired up about comics just by hanging out with friends I'd otherwise never get to see.

I also love meeting new artists and seeing what they're doing. It's always inspiring to find out what's motivating the talent of tomorrow.

If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

I hope I never have to know. Before I worked in comics I made my living at video stores which have all gone extinct. So, I don't know. Washing dishes?

Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?

I'm still figuring this out since I'm relatively new to being in Portland. The closest contender is probably McMenamins Blue Moon. I certainly go there the most.

During my first tenure in Portland I became pretty fond of McMenamins, but since coming back I've discovered most people don't seem to like it. Something about them expanding too much or the service not to expectation. However, my love for them is rooted in seven years ago so I'm still a fan. I also went for years without being able to drink my all-time favorite beer - their Hammerhead ale - so I'm a happy dude now.

Carts wise, the easy winner is Big Ass Sandwiches down on Southwest Ash and 3rd street. They make, hands down, the best sandwich in the city.

How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

I've only been living in Portland this time around since June 2010, but I did live here several years ago for a short while. After parting ways with Image, I took a tour of various places I considered living in and it only took a few hours of being back in Portland to know it was the town for me.

The comics community was huge for me, but it's more than that. I like big city living in a place which is comparatively small to its equivalents across the country. I'm also not a driver, so it helps to be able to get around without a car. Furthermore, I made a lot of friends in my first time out here who I've missed a lot over the years. It's very nice to be around them again.

What is your favorite part of Portland?

Tranquility Base. The studio is like sharing the Bat Cave with six awesome artists. Plus Floating World and Ground Kontrol are within stumbling distance. It's hard to complain when a fine funnybook emporium and a place I can play Ms. Pac-Man or Bad Dudes at while drinking Miller High Life are so close by.

Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

I haven't been to Astoria, where my grandmother's from, in years so I'd like to roll over there and see what's up.

Would you like to write/Illustrate for another media? What would you explore?

Absolutely, but whatever gig I'd get would have to leave time for comics. I lose interest the moment it becomes something where working on comics is an impossibility.

Screenwriting and teleplays has its appeal, but it would have to be the right fit. Also, like every writer of all time, I'm also working on a novel. Basically, I'm way down for whatever as long as it's allowing me the freedom to create what I want.

Saturday, December 04, 2010

I went to the serenity signing with Zach Whedon and Chris Samnee for their OGN The Shepherd's Tale. They had a great Question and answer afterwards.Then the whole crowd jammed into the TFAW across the street; it was packed. Many of the attendees hadn't been to a comic store before. To me that is a big success. This was put on by Portland Geek Council of Commerce and Culture (PGC3), in coordination with TFAW, Excalibur, and Bridge City.

On Dec 10 the PGC3 is having a party
PGC3 Presents: Geeky Wonderland Someday Lounge

125 NW 5th Ave

Portland, OR

This will be a perfect place for the public to meet the people involved. I will see you there.

Friday, December 03, 2010

“Brett Warnock really loves comics.” He is a co-publisher, with Chris Staros, and art director of literary graphic novel publisher Top Shelf. He grew up on Clarment/Byrne X-men, Wolfman/Perez Teen Titans, and Frank Miller's Daredevil. Brett went on to college in Eugene at the University of Oregon where he discovered the world of mail-order zines and mini-comics. He was influenced by anthologies like RAW, Blab!, No Zone, and Drawn and Quarterly. He went to become something of a student of the history of the medium, as well as the business of comics. He felt the rising mini-comics stars were largely being ignored by the previous generation of publishers. This was main impetus to launch the Top Shelf anthology. Topshelf went on to publish a series of hit books, such as Box Office Poison, Alan Moore’s From Hell, Essex County, Super Spy,Blankets, and Lost Girls. Top Shelf is known for the superior stories in well crafted books. Top shelf has produced over 250 books and is well known for its ability to discover and showcase the vanguard of the alternative comics’ scene.

Doug Dorr: What projects are you working on currently?
I'm currently getting covers ready, and building specs (for printers bids) for our entire 2011 schedule.

DD: What is your Process when editing?
My role as "editor" is much more like a traffic manager. Chris Staros (my partner in Atlanta) does any story-editing that needs to be done. That said, we don't do too much fiddling with stories.

DD: What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?
From Hell. Blankets. Essex County. Alec: The Years Have Pants. Swallow Me Whole.

DD: What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?
Blankets.

DD: With your experience in illustration and design, do you contribute to the look and feel of the books you publish/edit?
Yes, to the extent that i am the art director, all books need to meet my criteria for good design. If an author is willing and able to do all the design on the own, i'm more than happy to let them do so. (Less work for me!) But as often as not, i'll work with the author and an outside designer to find a common ground, and make the book really sing.

DD: What skill would you like to learn?
Ironically, while i started out in this business as the chief designer on staff, my own skills have atrophied pretty bad. I've never been good at Photoshop. So i'd really like to go back to school and bone up on Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), as well as video editing software. Oh, and i'd love to learn how to sail.

DD: What's the most important thing you've learned?
Be true to your instincts.

DD: What is your favorite genre of Comics?
I love almost all genres of comics. Most people know i'm an unabashed superhero fanboy.

DD: Do you have an Ipad? If so what do use it for the most.
Not yet.

DD: What is your favorite TV show/ movie?
Hmmm.. that's a tough one. Star Wars is my religion. (NO prequels, however.) I love certain directors. Kurosawa, Wes Anderson, Budd Boetticher, so many more. TV? Well, i don't have cable, so it's pretty much only tv on dvd. I like the failry recently trend of meta-storytelling in television. Sopranos started the form, and i love how it's essentially a novel length film. LOVED Deadwood, John From Cincinnati (unceremoniously canceled), Battlestar Galactica, X-Files, Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure, Arrested Development... the list goes on. I'm a pop-culture junkie. That said, my free time is so rare, that i don't catch as much as i otherwise would. I need time to take walks in the woods, after all.

DD: How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work?
Not at all. I'm stuck in my man-cave (basement of my house) all day, so i don't get out much.

DD: What was your first comic convention?
San Diego ComicCon 1991.

DD: What is your favorite part of comic conventions?
Seeing old friends, making new ones, and exploring cities.

DD: If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?
Probably still be tending bar.

DD: Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?
No. (I'd tell you, but i don't want to line to be any longer.)

DD: How long have you lived in Portland?
Born and raised. Spent the years 1985-1994 in Eugene, then came back.

DD: What is your favorite part of Portland?
The food.

DD: Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?
Looking forward to getting back to Eastern Oregon. Enterprise, Wallowa, Joseph area.